You Can Always Count on Toby

Every time you think "I'm so over Toby Keith," he comes back with an album you really like. It's so easy to count the man out, but c'mon, who else in country is even playing in his ballpark? He has a distinctive personality, a distinctive voice, a distinctive songwriting point of view, and a distinctive video style. He's Toby, and that's all there is to it.

Although the first single from the new album Honkytonk University wasn't my favorite, the second single As Good As I Once Was is pure Toby. The video even takes place in his favorite location: a bar. Read more about what Toby himself says about each song on the LP on The Girl's Guide to Country's CD of the Month page.

It's so easy to think that in the grand scheme of things, his music won't stand the test of time -- but certainly "Should Have Been A Cowboy" never seems to leave the airwaves.

He's been bitching and moaning again lately because his Dreamworks record label merged with Universal and he's back in the Mercury stable with the same label folks he escaped from to make How Do You Like Me Now. Apparently, he has one more record due on this contract, then he can do whatever he wants.

Who wants to be the remaining album will be a live one? He released a few live songs on Shockin' Y'All ("The Bus Songs" with Scotty Emerick), Greatest Hits Vol. 2., and Whiskey Girl via the AOL sessions, but he's prime for a full-on Toby Keith Live CD.